Libby foresters honored for their careers in management

The Montana State Society of American Foresters (SAF) recently held their annual state conference at Lubrecht Experimental Forest, located 30 miles northeast of Missoula in the Blackfoot River drainage. 

This 21,000-plus acre tract is managed by the University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation. This conference was a mix of indoor seminars and outdoor demonstrations, including a look at a number of forest management research projects being implemented by undergraduate forestry students. 

At the evening awards banquet, state officers recognized two members of the Libby Chapter of SAF for their contributions in 2025.

Former Lincoln County Forester, Ed Levert was awarded as the statewide Citizen of the Year “For demonstrating significant effort in advancement of the profession, especially through public eduction and service to SAF.”

As a dedicated career forester, and over 50 years with SAF, Levert has continuously demonstrated what it is to be a practitioner. Ed recently stepped down as Chair of the Forest Stewardship Foundation, after serving for the past 20 years and is a member of the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Collaborative. 

Russ Gautreaux was recognized and awarded the statewide Forester of the Year ‘Recognizing Outstanding Professionalism in Forestry and Active Service in SAF”. Russ has been a member of SAF for over 40 years, serving as a state and chapter officer.

The SAF is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary as an organization of forest resource professionals whose mission is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology to benefit society in perpetuity.

Both award recipients place a lot of value in the accomplishments of the Libby Chapter of SAF over the 70 years, since it was formed. 

The annual fifth grade field trips have a long history with providing natural resource education to Libby and Troy students. In cooperation with the county, the chapter has been helping to guide stewardship activities at the J. Neils Memorial Park, including construction of the trailhead kiosk and development of the interpretive brochure and stations. 

Members of the Libby chapter provided the forest inventory and management plan for the Alvord Lake Community Forest. In 2025, they were voluntarily assigned a two-mile stretch of Pipe Creek Road as part of the Adopt-a-Highway program. 

The Libby Chapter of SAF is proud to be a visible volunteer organization and regularly hosts presentations on current natural resource topics and issues.